U.S. Presentation to the UN Human Rights Committee
On October 17-18, 2023, a senior level delegation from across the U.S. government presented our most recent report on implementation the The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a multilateral treaty that commits nations to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial.
Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Michèle Taylor headed the U.S. delegation, which includes Special Assistant to the President for Democracy and Civil Participation Justin Vail, U.S. Department of State’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert Gilchrist, the Attorney General for the State of Nevada, Aaron Ford, Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, Steven Reed, as well as nine other senior U.S. government representatives from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense.
"The rights enshrined in the ICCPR are foundational to the fabric of all thriving democracies," said Ambassador Taylor in her opening remarks before the Human Rights Committee, the body which monitors treaty implementation. "For example, ensuring the right to vote and to participate in public affairs is not only necessary to foster an active civil society and political pluralism, it is crucial to ensure equal treatment under the law and to address a broad range of human rights challenges. We are deeply committed to the respect and protection of the rights enshrined in the ICCPR. The United States demonstrates that commitment by adopting and implementing measures to give effect to those rights."
Justin Vail, Special Assistant to President Biden for Democracy and Civil Participation, said the United States is "resolute" in its commitment to protecting human rights. "Because great nations do not hide from their history or their faults. They acknowledge them and work to improve with transparency, humility and perseverance."
U.S. Presentation to the UN Human Rights Committee
On October 17-18, 2023, a senior level delegation from across the U.S. government presented our most recent report on implementation the The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a multilateral treaty that commits nations to respect the civil and political rights of individuals, including the right to life, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, electoral rights and rights to due process and a fair trial.
Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council Michèle Taylor headed the U.S. delegation, which includes Special Assistant to the President for Democracy and Civil Participation Justin Vail, U.S. Department of State’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Robert Gilchrist, the Attorney General for the State of Nevada, Aaron Ford, Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, Steven Reed, as well as nine other senior U.S. government representatives from the Department of Justice, Department of Labor, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense.
"The rights enshrined in the ICCPR are foundational to the fabric of all thriving democracies," said Ambassador Taylor in her opening remarks before the Human Rights Committee, the body which monitors treaty implementation. "For example, ensuring the right to vote and to participate in public affairs is not only necessary to foster an active civil society and political pluralism, it is crucial to ensure equal treatment under the law and to address a broad range of human rights challenges. We are deeply committed to the respect and protection of the rights enshrined in the ICCPR. The United States demonstrates that commitment by adopting and implementing measures to give effect to those rights."
Justin Vail, Special Assistant to President Biden for Democracy and Civil Participation, said the United States is "resolute" in its commitment to protecting human rights. "Because great nations do not hide from their history or their faults. They acknowledge them and work to improve with transparency, humility and perseverance."